Michigan Dems to be in Washington when polls close

All six House Michigan Democrats are planning to be back on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon as their constituents vote in their state’s presidential primary.

{mosads}The Democratic National Committee last year stripped Michigan Democrats of their 156 delegates for moving their presidential primary up. The move violated Democratic Party rules stipulating that no state may hold nominating contests before Feb. 5 other than Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. The Democratic presidential frontrunners subsequently promised not to campaign in Michigan.

Michigan Reps. John Conyers Jr., John Dingell, Dale Kildee, Sander Levin, Carolyn Kilpatrick and Bart Stupak will be in Washington when votes are cast Tuesday evening, according to aides in their respective offices. The Senate, meanwhile, has not scheduled for votes until next week.

Democratic candidates Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and former Sen. John Edwards (N.C) have removed themselves from the Michigan ballot, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), and former Sen. Mike Gravel (Alaska) remain.